Eric Skelly began as an assistant coach for the Crusader swimming and diving program prior to the 2005-2006 season.

The Crusaders’ recruiting coordinator, Skelly focuses his time helping the breaststrokers, individual medley competitors, and the distance freestylers.

Skelly arrived at Valpo after serving as the head age group coach and assistant aquatics director at Sugar Creek Swim Club in Crawfordsville, Ind.  He has also previously served two different stints as an assistant coach at Millikin University, where his primary responsibilities included recruiting and dry land coaching.

While at Millikin, Skelly also coached with the Decatur Swim Club, working with several senior national and junior national level athletes as well as age group swimmers.

Skelly was a six-time All-American athlete in the backstroke as well as distance freestyle at Ashland University from 1994-1997.  He helped lead Ashland to a fourth place finish at the Division II national championships in 1996.

He is a Level 3 coach with the American Swimming Coaches Association and a certified pool operator.

Following his time at Ashland, Skelly finished work on his bachelor’s degree at the University of Phoenix in 2005, graduating with a degree in criminal justice.  He is currently enrolled at Valparaiso in the Master’s of Sports Administration program with an expected completion date of spring, 2007.